Inclosed combustion apparatus and method of ignition



J. GOOD.

INCLOSED COMBUSTION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF IGNITION.

APPLICATION FiLED AUG.I8, I917.

1,31 9, 1'78. Patented May24, 1921.

V 1 VIIIIIIII \YIIIIIIIIA UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GOOD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GOOD INVENTIONS (30., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INCLOSED COMBUSTION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF IGNITION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 18, 1917. Serial No. 186,882.

T 0 a 7.0]? am it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN Goon, United States citizen, residing in Brooklyn, New York, have invented thefollowing-described Improvements in Inclosed Combustion Apparatus and Methods of Ignition.

The invention is an improvement in the structure and method of opera-ting inclosed forced combustion heaters'burning liquid fuel and adapted to ignite and burn nonexplosively in a space or flame tube of small compass and to be set in operation by the mere pressing of a button or by an equivalent simple operation, whereby the apparatus is adapted for use for preheating the combustion charge mixtures of automobile and boat engines as well as for other uses.

The object of the invention is to adapt such apparatus for operation at lower air pressure differences generally, and particularly with a lower pressure difference of the atomizing air used for supplying the fuel 4 to the burner head, and also to simplify the construction and improve the reliability of ignition especially when using heavy fuel liquids or in very cold weather. The several features promoting these and other objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a general elevation of an in-- closed heater apparatus with parts broken away and shown in section, and including a controlling'sv'vitch for said apparatus";

Fig. 2 a topplan of the fan blower;

Fig. 3 an enlarged detail of the fuel nozzle; and

Fig. 4 a modification.

The electric motor 1 drives a fan blower 2 which is the means for establishing the operating pressure difference in the present case and for this purpose delivers air to the pipe 3 under a pressure therein of say four to seven inches-of water. The pipe 3 leads the air to the air admission chamber 4 of the burner head whence it passes through the perforations in the shell into the flame passage, being thereby distributed uniformly around about the flame, as presently explained. A portion of the air from the blower inpipe 3 is caught and deflected by the collector cowl 6 lnto the air tube 7 and is led thereby to an atomizing nozzle 9. The air jet thus produced is of sufficientvelocity to aspirate the liquid fuel through the tube of the nozzle 9 or float chamber 10, which is secured to the lower part of the burner head or disposed below it on some other support. Atomized mixture thus established passes through the distributing shell- 5 and into the flame'pipe 11, the outer end of which is understood to be freely open to atmosphere at some distance beyond the region of combustion so as not to produce an appreciable back pressure to the flow of spray and air. The burner head and flame pipe 11 will be understood to be entirely closed except for the admission entrances for air and fuel and of course the exhaust outlet, and the fan blower will be understood to be a means for creating and maintaining the flow into and through the burner headand flame pipe, being adapted in the present case to supply the chamber 4 and the tube 7 with air at the same pressure, except as modified by throttle 13, as presently explained. It should be explained that the atomized spray is ignited by a spark at the electrode terminals 12 which directly intercept it and that by reason of the fact that at this place the spray has not yet been thoroughly mixed with the combustion supporting air from the distributer shell 5, such ignition takes place non-explosively and results in a steady flame flowing through the flame pipe 11 with high velocity. The air delivery through the distributer shell 5 is at such rate as to form proportions of fuel and air suited to give complete combustion in the flame passage, that is to say, to give explosive proportions, but without explosion because of the manner of introduction. This adjustment may be attainedrby manipulationof the valve 13 in the pipe 3 or by a special selection of the size and number of the distributer holes, and is preferably done by the latter method according to the principle explained in another application copending herewith Serial .No. 195,506 October 9, 1917, it being understood in either event that a high velocity of the atomizinair iet is desirable not only to lift the fue liquid from the float chamber, but also to give fine atomization. It is possible to arrange he a e d u l nozzles and the 10- latented May 24:, 1921..

from the supply" cation of the spark igniter so that the sons, reliable ignition is assured in the present case by heating or pre-heating the air or fuel nozzle, or both. In Fig. 1, the fuel nozzle 9, just below its discharge orifice,

is surrounded or in contact with an electric heating coil 14:, arranged to be put in circuit with the same current source that operates the motor and energizes the spark coil of the igniter, and the circuit of this heating coil is preferably so arranged as to be come energized slightly in advance of'the motor and spark coil, so that the end of the nozzle will first become 'hot and will heat the initial discharge of liquid there= from and render it more readily ignitible, either by reducing its viscosity or partially vaporizing it, or both. A suitable period of advance heating may be determined automatically by the use of a dash pot-retarded switch such as illustrated in Fig 1. When the button 15 of this switch is depressed against its spring it first closes the battery circuit through the heating coil14,'-andat a later time as determined by. the retarding action of the dash-pot 16, closes the circuit through the spark coil and niotor. The

length of the dash pot barrel and the size of its ports will be understood to be proportioned toproduce the effect stated and give an interval of several seconds according to the size of the element and the value of the current available for operating it.

The full battery c'urrent initially traversing the heating coil 14: raises it and the nozzle quickly to the desired temperature,

so that when the motor and ignition circuit is closed'by continued pressure on the button 15, the liquid fuel encountering the heated part of the fuel passage will be vaporized thereby and the resulting vapor on issuing into the mixing space within the burner head will become mixed with enough air to render it'ignitible and will readily ignite from the spark. Immediately followng such 1gn1t1on the production of vapor is stopped as by discontinuing the current through the element or otherwise, and thereafter the combustion proceeds without vaporization of the liquid prior to its mixture with combustion-supporting air. The heatmg 0011 may however remain in circuit v during the entire burning period, if desired,

this being a matter determined largely by the design of the switch mechanism and if left in the circuit will tend to facilitatecombustion by warming the fuel though preferably not to the point'of complete va- POIIZ atlOII within the fuel nozzle. The preliminaryheati g of the fuel nozzle and th conversion of the initial fuel discharge into zle 9 above the liquid level in the float bowl.

Such air is admitted through the nick 17 -(Fig. '3) filed in the tube of the fuel nozzle, and mixes with the column of liquid fuel in the tube, andby reducing the weight of the column makes it more easily liftable by the aspirating action 'of the air jet, and at the same time improves the atomization. Conversely, the reduction of weight accomplished in the'manner stated may be useful to enable a given air jet velocity to lift the liqgid to a greater height.

0th the preheating of the nozzle and the mixing of air with the liquid column are,

individually, means for improving the atomn 'zation and the automatlc ignition in the closed burner head, and theyare used cumulatively for this purposein the case illustrated, because the vaporization by heating is more effective when the fuel is broken up by bubbles, and for this reason it is intended that this patent shall cover the said features independently and jointly.

Fig. 4: illustrates the further application of the principle of the invention to the'p,reheating of the atomizing air itself as by means of a coil 18 applied to the air tube leading to the air jet nozzle 8. A sufficient I amount of heat imparted to the air alone will suffice to give reliable spark ignition of a spray otherwise ignitible only as the result of very careful adjustment'or of a very powerful .(and expensive) spark, and such air heating may be used. cumulatively with the fuel nozzle heating-as also indicated in the'same figure. I While in both the forms above described the preliminary heating of the fuel supply.

means is desirable for reasons having to do with cleanliness of operation and of appa- ,ratus, it should'beexplainedthat ignition will also obtain even though the heating does not commence until the fuel supply. The slight accumulation of liquid in the burner shown in my co-pending application Serial N 0. 186,881, filedAugust, 18th, 1917.

Claims.

' 1', The method of igniting burners of the head while the latter is warming up, will be 7 ill kind having fuel and air entrances adapted for mixing and burning fuel liquid with combustion-supporting air without vaporization of the fuel previous to such mixture, which consists in applying heat to vaporize the fuel liquid, mixing the resulting vapor with air, igniting the mixture and thereafter continuing the supply of fuel in liquid form. I 1

2. The method ofigniting burners of the kind having a fuel passage arranged for mixing fuel in liquid form with the com bustion-supporting air, which consists ,in heating the fuel passage to vaporize the fuel liquid flowing therein, mixing the vapor with air, igniting such mixture and. thereafter passing fuel in liquid form through said passage.

3. The method of igniting and operating liquid fuel burners having a mixing space andfuel and air entrances and adapted fornnxlng and burning liquid fuel without vaporization of the fuel previous to such mixture, which consists in commingling a small amount of air with the fuel'liquid,

flowing to said space, applying heat to the' commingled fuel and air to vaporize the fuel therein igniting the vapor on arrival in said mixing Space and thereafter passing unvaporized fuel liquid into said space.

4. i'he methodof starting the operation of liquid fuel burners of the type in which fuel liquid is atomized into the ignition and combustion space, which consists in initially heating a part of the burner mechanism to vaporize some of the fuel liquid, mixing such vapor with enough air in the burner to render it ignitible, igniting said vaporous mixture and causing the combustion so started to inflame the atomized unvaporized fuel liquid.

5. Liquid fuel combustion apparatus comprising an ignition and mixing space, a fuel passage adapted to discharge liquid fuel spray intosaid space, means for causing air flow into said space in mixing relation to the liquid spray therein, an igniter in said space and means independent of the com bustion in said space forheating said passsage and causing temporary discharge of fuel vapor therefrom to facilitate ignition.

6. Liquid fuel combustion prising means for mixmg and burning liquid fuel and air without vaporizationof the fuel prior to such mixture, in combination with means for igniting said mixture apparatus 'com risin an 1 n1t1on and H11X1I10 s ace comprising an igniter element in said space and a heating element adapted to vaporize the fuel liquid and produce fuel vapor in said space.

8. Inclosed combustion apparatus having means for creating air flow thereinto and means controlled by said flow for proportionately delivering fuel liquid thereinto, in combination with an electric heating element for the fuel delivery means and an electric igniter located to ignite the fuel vapor produced by said element.

9. Inclosed combustion apparatus having means for creating air flow thereinto and means controlled by such flow for proportionately delivering fuel liquid thereinto, in combination with an electric heating element for vaporizing the fuel liquid, an igniter for the fuel... vapor ;and automatic means for energizing said element in advance -of fuel delivery.

10. Combustion apparatus comprising a burner head, an air jet nozzle therein, a fuel passage and n'ozzle leading to said air jet, an air-distributing means surrounding the axis of the' air jet, an electric heating element applied to one of said nozzlesand,

flame passage having an electric.mot0r" driven fan for creating'flow of fuel and air therethrough and containing an electric 1gniter for the fuel, of an electric heating c011 applied to the ,fuel supplying means and adapted for initially heating the fuel to render the same ignitible by sparks, and switch mechanism adapted for closing the circuit to the heating coil before closing the circuit to the fan and igniter.

13. In inclosed liquid fuel combustion apparatus, the combination with an inclosed flame passage having an electrically driven means for creating flow of fuel and air thereinto and therethrough and containing an electric igniter for the fuel, of electric means for initially heating said fuel to render it readily ignitible, and a single switch mechanism controlling said electric means and comprising a delayed action operating member adapted to close the circuit-to the heating means before closing it to the other and combustion-supporting air and for liquid fuel and containing an electric spark igniter, of means for assisting the ignition of the fuel in said closed head comprising an electric heating coil applied to the fuel entrance and means for admixing air with the fuel flowing toward said heating coil.

the orifices of atomizing air and liquid fuel nozzles, an electric igniter and an entrance for. combustion supporting air, and a single blower apparatus for directly establishing flow through said nozzles and entrance in combination with electric means for heating and vaporizing the liquid fuel to facilitate the i nitionythereof within the said head. 17. iqui'dcfuel'combustion apparatus hav ing a mixing space provided with means for admitting fuel and air thereto and containing an igniter, in combination with a heating element for vaporizing the fuel and means for automatically causing said heating element to function slightly in advance of the admission of fuel to said space.

18. In liquid fuel combustion apparatus, thecombination with aburner head containing means for making anlig'nitible mixture of liquid fuel and air and containing electric means for igniting such mixture, of a passage for supplyingthe fuel liquid to said head and means forcommingling air with the liquid" flowing in said passage.

19. In liquid fuel combustion apparatus, the combination with an ignition-and mixing space provided with means for admitting combustion-supporting and fuel-atom -v izing air and with an electric igniter, of a passage for conducting fuel liquid into atomizing relation to said air and means for commingling air with the liquid in said I passa through which liquidfuel is drawn by the action of saidjet and an opening in said; passage through which air is drawn and commingled with the liquid in said passage. 21. In l quidfuef combustion apparatus, an igniter and mixing space, means for admitting combustion, supporting air thereto,

, and means'for supplying liquid fuel thereto comprising a liquid fuel. ch'amberuat a lower leveL-a p ssage t le d uel th re om modera e. I Liquid fuel combustion apparatus comprising an air jet, 3A liquid fuel passage to said space, and means for admitting a gaseous medium to said passage for admixture with the liquid flowing therein.

-22. Liquid atomizing apparatus comprising a passagecommunicating with the liquid to be atomized, an air jet in aspirating relation to the orifice of the passage and means for admixing a gaseous medium at less thanthe jet pressure with the liquid in the passage.

23. Liquid fuel combustion apparatuscomprising an igniter and flame space, a fuel passage thereto, a source of liquid fuel supply at a lower level than the outlet from the passage and an entrance for a gaseous medium in said passage between said level and the said outlet.

24: A liquid fuel combustion device adapt ed to maintain a continuous flame ina space of small compass, capable of operation by pressure differences and adapted to be ignited electrically andcomprising in combination, a flame space, an electric igniter therein, a supply of liquid fuel ata lower level and means for establishing an ignitible, steady-burning mixture in said space including a passage through which fuel is moved by suction from said supply to said space, an inlet to said passage admitting a gaseous medium-thereto whereby said medium is commingledwith the fuel in transit to saidspace, means at the outlet fuel and mixing it with said medium and means for coincidently energizing said niter.

25; A liquid fuel combustion device com.- prising, a flame space an ele'ct ric igniter therein and a body of liquid fuel at a lower level, in combination with means for estabof said passage for further subdividing the lishing an ignitible and steady-burning,

mixture in said space (pmprising, a fuelconducting passage through which fuel is moved from said body to said space, an inlet for air. ,to said. passage whereby air is commingled with thefuel in transit through said passage, means at the outlet of said passage for further mixing said fuel andsaid air, and anauxiliary entrance through which air is admitted to said spacei 26. A liquid fuel combustion device com:

prising, a flame space, an electric igniter with an inlet admitting air thereto whereby air is commingled with the fuel and the comtherein and a supply of liquid'fuel at a lower level, in combinationwith a fuel-conducting passage between said space'and supply, assd mated with a source: of heat, and'providedmingled medium is heated in transit through said passage to the flame space, and means .at the outlet of said passage for, further mixing the fuel and air delivered to} said space.

27 i i We e s? P- Combustion apparatus a erated means for creating flows of air and fuel into said space, means for mixing air with the fuel flow, electrically heated vaporizing means for the mixture, an electric igniter within said space and means for conjointly {supplying current to all said electrical means.

28. Combustion apparatus comprising an ignition space containing an electric igniter, a passage through which air flows to said space, means for delivering fuel into said passage, an electric heating element applied to said passage between the point of said delivery and said space and means for energizing said igniter when said element is 15 energized.

in testimony whereofll have signed thls specification.

JOHN soon. 

